Today's Brief 9/01/2024

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1 .Pravasi bhartiya diwas:

(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention at Bhubaneswar in Odisha

9th January commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915. To mark this day, the tradition of celebrating Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) started in 2003. 1st PBD Convention was organised on 9 January 2003 to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India.

• Since 2015, under a revised format, PBD Convention has been organised once every 2 years.

• 17 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions have been organised till date. 17th PBD was held from 8 – 10 January 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The theme of the 17th PBD Convention was "Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India's Progress in Amrit Kaal".

• The 18th PBD Convention will be held from 8 – 10 January 2025 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The theme of the 18th PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat".

First PBD 2003-New Delhi

First Virtual PBD 2021

Seventeenth PBD-INDORE,2023

2 .Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched a pair of special songs by Akashvani and Doordarshan,

3 .The Centre has appointed V Narayanan as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) : stands for the Indian Space Research Organisation.

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

• What it is: It's India's national space agency, responsible for the country's space program.

  
  

• Key Roles:

  • Research & Development:  Conducts research and develops space technology, including satellites, launch vehicles, and spacecraft.

  • Space Missions: Plans and executes a wide range of space missions, from launching satellites for communication, navigation, and Earth observation to exploring other planets.

  • Space Applications: Develops and implements space-based technologies for various applications like telecommunications, remote sensing, and navigation.

    
    

• Notable Achievements:

  
  

  • Chandrayaan missions: Successful lunar exploration missions, including Chandrayaan-3 which achieved a historic soft landing on the Moon's south pole in 2023

  • Mangalyaan: India's first interplanetary mission, successfully reaching Mars orbit.

  • Launch Vehicle Development: Developed a series of launch vehicles, including the powerful GSLV Mk III, capable of launching heavy satellites.

  • Satellite Launches: Successfully launched numerous satellites for communication, remote sensing, and other purposes.

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• Impact: ISRO has significantly contributed to India's technological advancement and has played a crucial role in various sectors like agriculture, disaster management, and telecommunications.

1. India’s first battery energy storage system:

   (General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

   A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a collection of rechargeable batteries connected together to store electrical energy.

   
   

   Here's a breakdown:

   
   

   • How it works:

     • Charging: Energy from various sources (like solar, wind, or even excess grid power during off-peak hours) is used to charge the batteries.

     • Discharging: When needed, the stored energy is released from the batteries to supply electricity.

     
     

     Key Functions:

     • Grid Stabilization: Helps balance the grid by storing excess energy during periods of low demand and releasing it during peak demand, reducing strain on the power grid.

     • Renewable Energy Integration: Enables greater integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, which are intermittent, by storing their energy for use when they're not producing.

     • Backup Power: Provides reliable backup power during outages, ensuring critical services and infrastructure remain operational.

     • Peak Shaving: Reduces the need for expensive "peaker plants" (power plants that only operate during peak demand), lowering electricity costs.

     • Frequency Regulation: Helps maintain stable grid frequency, crucial for the reliable operation of the electrical grid.

     
     

     Types of Batteries:

     • Lithium-ion: Most common type, known for high energy density and long lifespan.

     • Lead-acid: Mature technology, cost-effective for some applications.

     • Flow batteries: Can store large amounts of energy, suitable for long-duration storage.

   
   

   Benefits:

   • Increased grid reliability

   • Reduced reliance on fossil fuels

   • Improved energy efficiency

   • Cost savings

   • Enhanced grid flexibility

   
   

   Challenges:

   • Cost: Can be expensive to install and maintain.

   • Lifespan: Battery performance degrades over time.

   • Environmental impact: Manufacturing and disposal of batteries can have environmental concerns.

   
   

   Overall:

   BESS technologies are playing an increasingly important role in modernizing the power grid and facilitating the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

   
   

2. The 3-day Flamingo Festival is an annual event held in Andhra Pradesh, India, typically during the winter season (January)

   (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

   
   

   Location: Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh

   
   

   About: Flamingos are a group of six bird species known for their striking pink or reddish plumage, long legs, and curved necks.

   
   

   Flamingos are filter-feeders that use their long necks and curved bills to suck in water and mud, then spit it out through a built-in filter to trap shrimp and other crustaceans. 

1. Flamingos get their pink color from eating algae and brine shrimp, which are rich in carotenoid pigments

   
   

   six species of flamingos, and they are known for their long legs, curved necks, and striking pink or reddish plumage: 

   
   

   • Greater flamingo: The largest and tallest species, found in parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe 

   • Lesser flamingo: The smallest and most abundant species, found in parts of Africa and southern Asia 

   • Andean flamingo: The rarest species, with fewer than 40,000 birds 

   • Chilean flamingo: Found only in South America 

   • James's flamingo: Also known as the puna flamingo, found only in South America 

   • American flamingo: Also known as the Caribbean flamingo, the only flamingo with wild populations in North America (found in Florida) 

   
   

6 .Polar Vortex:

(General Studies-I (250 marks)Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society)

is a large area of low pressure and cold air that swirls around the Earth's poles. It's like a giant whirlpool of frigid air, and it's always there, but sometimes it weakens and dips southward, bringing bitterly cold temperatures to places that aren't used to them.

The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air that spins around the Earth's poles, primarily in the stratosphere. This constant swirling mass of frigid air typically remains confined near the poles, but during certain periods,

it can weaken and dip southward, bringing unusually cold temperatures and severe weather conditions to regions accustomed to milder climates.

This southward plunge can lead to record-breaking low temperatures, heavy snowfall, and dangerous wind chills, significantly impacting daily life in affected areas.

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